News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Upper Cumberland Workforce Development is considering a tiny house community project for the needy.
Executive Director Becky Hull said the Workforce Development has partnered with a similar program in Kentucky.
“We do have homeless individuals here, we do have high recidivism rates. So we started thinking ‘why couldn’t that work here?’ We reached out to our county mayor, our veterans groups, and the homeless shelter. It just seemed like the timing is right for everyone to come together,” Hull said.
Hull added the Workforce Development seriously considered this program in response to so many formerly incarcerated people with nowhere to go.
Most of the funding from the Kentucky program comes from grants and local faith based organizations. Hull said one of the development staffers has written grants for the Kentucky program, and can use that knowledge for Putnam County. She also hopes to partner with the Rescue Mission.
“The community that is established in Eastern Kentucky, they purchase the tiny home kits, they build them, and then they donate them to the 501 (c)(3), and then [they] work with the county to establish the community and to set up tiny homes,” Hull said.
The Workforce Development will meet March 19 to discuss the program’s possibilities. Hull said anyone who would like to be a partner is welcome to attend.
The meeting will take place at 1000 England Drive at 9:00 a.m.
